12 bar jazz blues progressions

How to read the tables

These tables present the structure in 12 bars that you should read from measure 1 to 12 like this:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Basic 12 bar form progression in G

This is a very basic progression with a 12 bar structure.

G7

C7

G7

G7

C7

C7

G7

G7

Am7

D7

G7

G7

You are advice to used suitable jazz chords instead of regular chords. Also, the dominant seventh chords could be substituted by other extendend chords like 9th and 13th as well as altered chords like #9.

12 bar progression in G

This is another of the most common 12 bar structures in the jazz blues style, (only the eight bar differ from the previous).

G7

C7

G7

G7

C7

C7

G7

E7

Am7

D7

G7

G7

To vary the progression a tip is to use half steps and slide into the following chord, for example G#7 to G7. This method could of course be used for all presented 12 bar progression presented here.

12 bar progression in G with more changes

To the 12 bar progressions above, additional chords and some shorter changes could be added.

G7

C7

G7

G7

C7

C7

G7

Bm7 / E7 /

Am7

D7

G7

Am7 / G7

12 bar progression in A

Same as "12 bar progression in G" above, but in another key, and with a turnaround on the two last measures.

A7

D7

A7

A7

D7

D7

A7

F#7

Bm7

E7

A7 F#7

Bm7 E7

Blues jazz progression with substitutions

The same 12 bar as above with substitutions.

A13

D9

A13

A13

D9

D9

A13

F#9

Bm11

E9

A7 F#7

Bm7 E7

You could also try A11, Bm9 and so on.

Blues jazz progression with chromatic substitutions

Here is a progression with some chromatic ideas.

A7

Ab7

A7

Eb7

D7

Ab7

A7

F#7

Bm7

E7

A7 F#7

Bm7 E7

Minor 12 bar progression

Here is a suggestion of a basic minor jazz progression.

Gm7

Gm7

Gm7

Gm7

Cm7

Cm7

Gm7

Gm7

A7

Ab7

Gm7

Gm7

A second basic minor 12 Bar progression

Here is another easy minor jazz progression, quite similar with the previous.